Legislators call for funding state & tribal wildlife grants

169 Members of Congress have signed a letter supporting “robust funding” for the State and Tribal Wildlife Grant program in the fiscal year 2019 federal budget. The ‘Dear Colleagues’ letter was delivered to Chairman Ken Calvert, R-California, and Ranking Member Betty McCollum, D-Minnesota, of the Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies.

The State and Tribal Wildlife Grant program is slated to be halved by President Trump’s proposed budget for the Interior Department. The Wildlife Society previously expressed concerns regarding many of the president’s proposed funding levels for wildlife and science programs, including STWG. STWG is the only federal program that directly assists state agencies in developing and executing state wildlife action plans. These plans are crucial in assisting species of greatest concern.

The letter campaign was led by Reps. Don Young, R-Alaska, and Mike Thompson, D-California.

The Wildlife Society worked alongside the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and the National Wildlife Federation to encourage House members to sign the letter.